sal

Why play anything else? Jazz is life.

I finally got to see this film on Saturday, and like most of you who have seen it, I am very impressed. I thought it was fantastic.....completely original, funny, and sad. The numerous themes and the strong impact of the film stay with you long after the film is over. Charlie Kaufman is a refreshing presence in American cinema for sure. And the ensemble performances were all quite good, especially Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who appreciates originality. And if you have a special someone to watch it with, even better.

My opinion is a bit different. I've always found him to be somewhat of a boring player. Yeah, his technique is good and he is versatile. But I've never found much excitement in his playing. Sounds kind of run-of-the-mill to me. Just my opinion.

This one seems to have generated the least discussion out of the entire series. Has anyone heard this music or received this set? Is it worth taking the plunge?

This set, along with the Max Roach set, is at the top of my wish list. Well actually, Gerry Mulligan Concert Band is near the top, as is Gerald Wilson, Django, Roy Eldridge, .......

Wise decision, Quincy! The Mosaic is fantastic.....I was just listening to some discs from the set. Its my favorite Mosaic in my collection.

His new one "Allegory" is one of my favorite releases from 2003. The music really shows off Rogers' compositional skills. There's lots of compositions with rapid tempo shifts and unique song structures. I would call it "highly advanced post bop". You won't really find any songs that will have you humming the melody after you hear it, but I don't think that's the purpose. The musicianship is stellar. Rogers is one of the best guitar players on the scene IMO, and the album contains some of Chris Potter's best playing on record. The rhythm section, Ed Simon, Scott Colley and Clarence Penn, is brilliant. I highly recommend this one.

Pat Martino's recent work has been fantastic. And Mark Kleinhaut has a beautiful new CD out featuring Bobby Watson. And I want to second the recommendations for Bobby Broom and Adam Rogers.

jazzshrink, I think you might have caught him on a night where he was in really bad shape. The two times I've seen him, he seemed completely calm and in control. And the music was beautiful. I don't doubt, however, that he has his nights where things get bad. A well-known jazz trumpeter told me about some instances where Tom has left the stage once he's finished his solo and gone into a bathroom stall and not come out.

DAMN, this is a great album!!! I never heard this one before my RVG came in the mail a few days ago, and this some fantastic jazz. This is WITHOUT A DOUBT my new favorite Horace Silver album, and I have about 8 or 9 of his CDs. Every song is just really great to listen to...memorable melodies and FANTASTIC soloing. Horace seems really inspired this session...his piano solos are some of my favorite I've ever heard him play. Woody Shaw and Joe Henderson turn in some fantastic playing, and JJ Johnson is just icing on the cake. Man, this is some foot-tapping, finger popping, swinging stuff here! I love it!!!! Another thing I really like is the diverse choice of material. Some of Silver's albums, although the playing is always top notch, contain alot of songs that sound the same. Cape Verdean Blues is still signature Horace Silver, but he sounds refreshed, revitalized and full of new ideas....like he was realy inspired and reached some new peaks in his composing (and playing). My ranting is done, and thanks for letting me get this out of my system! Oh, and if there's anyone who has never heard this album, get to the store as soon as freakin' possible and treat yourself to some musical gold. Thank you.

I fucking hate R&B singers like Sisko, 112, Joe, and the rest of those soul-less fucks. Sorry, I've had a few beers and had to get that out. Thank you.

Oh man......that's great! I'll be forwarding that one along to other jazz lovers I know....it will make their day.

Is the Mildred Bailey very popular??

"Soul of Things" was a real discovery. I will be checking out more of his music in the future.

Anyone familiar with this trumpet player? I know that he's realtively new on the scene. I've seen the guy perform twice, both times with a Roscoe Mitchell-led band. While he seems to have potential, it irritates me how he relies on the exact same licks, rapid fingering, and unusual sounds OVER and OVER again. He was playing the exact same stuff last night that he played when he was with the Roscoe Mitchell Octet at the Chicago jazz fest this past summer! But then again, he does always solo immediately after Roscoe Mitchell, which is a hard task to accomplish. After getting your mind completely fuckin' blown by a Roscoe Mitchell excursion, its kind of hard for anything else to sound good.

Elvin Jones' "Earth Jones" features some great Liebman playing.

I've always found Herbie Hancock's compositions to be immediately recognizable.

I hope you guys can make this happen! I'd love to check it out.

Man, I haven't listened to the Dead in quite some time, but this post is making me want to drag out my CDRs and Dicks Picks! I haven't seen the DVD, but they were playing really well in 78. They still had that intensity from 1977 and were evolving into their 80's mold at the same time. I'm sure its great! AfricaBrass, where are you?????

I hope you all enjoy your shows! As for me, I'll be seeing Herbie two weeks in a row here in Chicago....one show will be a quartet with Wayne Shorter (!) and the second show is the trio with Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette.

Hope you can make it, Chuck. And I hope others can as well. This should be a great and memorable event. Its times like this I'm really grateful to live in Chicago.

I'm really looking forward to this one. It might be James Carter's first great album....in my opinon of course!

Hello everyone, In case you didn't know already, I wanted to let you know that this Wednesday, March 24, there will be a tribute concert for the great AEC bassist Malachi Favors at the HotHouse, beginning at 7PM. The show will feature performances by Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Don Moye, and several other AACM musicians, as well as a special performance by the AACM big band. Cover is $15. I will be there for sure, most likely by myself. Lets support this event and show how much this great musican touched our lives and how dearly he will be missed. Thanks. Sal

I've seen this group live and I must add my .02. They are fantastic. I look forward to picking up this album.

Chicago is quite good too. There is live jazz seven days a week at multiple venues, plus, if you're a musician, there are jam sessions at least 5 nights a week. The only problem is that it seems that public support is dwindling. I've seen Joey DeFrancesco and Bobby Hutcherson within the last year, and I was one of about 10 or so people in the audience. Mark Sheldon told me last week that Tom Harrell's show was dead as well. Its really a damn shame.